TUBE FORMING

The setup process of tubular hydroforming is basically similar to setup of normal sheet forming. The user may refer to the setting of sheet forming described in previous sections. Specialized setup options related to tubular hydroforming are provided in this section.

 

8.2.10.1       NEW SIMULATION

Create a new simulation. Select TUBE FORMING as simulation type from the drop-down list illustrated in Figure 8.2.116. Tube forming consists of four pages: FORMING, SPRINGBACK, TRIMMING and SUPERPLASTIC FORMING, as shown in Figure 8.2.120.

Figure 8.2.119  Tube forming

Figure 8.2.120  Tube forming page

 

The user keys in initial blank thickness, following by clicking OK button to display the setup interface of tube forming.

 

 

8.2.10.2       GENERAL

Similar to those described in setup of sheet forming. The user may specify title and working coordination system. The interface is illustrated in Figure 8.2.121. Detailed description of the GENERAL page is provided in Section 8.2.4.1.

TubeFormingGeneral

Figure 8.2.121  Interface of tubular hydroforming

 

8.2.10.3       TUBE

This function allows the user to assign as part as tube. The user may click PART button to select a part from the Part List as tube. The interface is illustrated in Figure 8.2.122. The process of defining tube is similar to blank definition process described in previous section.

 

TubeFormingTube

Figure 8.2.122  Tube definition

 

8.2.10.4       TOOLS

This function allows the user to assign parts as tools in hydroforming process. The interface of the tool definition is illustrated in Figure 8.2.123. For description of tool definition, refer to Section 8.2.4.3.

TubeFormingTools

Figure 8.2.123  Tool Definition

 

8.2.10.5       PROCESS

This function allows the user to set process parameters for tubular hydroforming. The basic setting is similar to sheet hydroforming described in Section 8.2.4.4. For tube hydroforming, the user may use fluid flux to control fluid internal pressure. The setup interface is illustrated in Figure 8.2.124.

 

TubeFormingProcess

Figure 8.2.124  Hydroforming control parameters

The user needs to select VOLUME from the drop-down list in Hydro mech field.

NO FLUX: Allow the user to specify fluid flux vs. time curve to control internal fluid pressure. The dialog box is illustrated in Figure Figure 8.2.125.

VolumeControl

Figure 8.2.125  Fluid flux dialog box

CONSTANT: Define constant fluid flux. The user may key in a constant fluid flux in FLUID FLUX input data field.

TIME VARIABLE: Define time variable fluid flux. The user may click EDIT button to display the EDIT LOAD CURVE dialog box described in Section 8.2.4.4.

FLUID FLUX: Define flux of fluid.

DENSITY: Define density of fluid.

BULK: Defines bulk viscosity of fluid.